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“War seems inevitable if peace talks are not recommenced soon”

“The leader of the LTTE, in his Martyr’s Day speech, has lamented over the political void within which the Tamil people are destined to suffer without either an interim solution or a permanent resolution of their national problem and has fervently requested the government to recommence the talks. If this request is not heeded to, a war seems inevitable” says Rt.Rev.Dr.Thomas Savundaranayagam, Bishop of Jaffna in his 2004 Christmas Day message.

Excerpts from the Bishop’s message:

‘The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. They that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death upon them have the light shined’. This Biblical saying has all the relevance to our lives and it is important that we look at it and understand it in a very deeper perspective. A protracted war has been stopped and it is now 35 months since a cease fire agreement was signed and in spite of this, the inability to deliver the peace dividend component to those directly affected by war, has created a sense of fear and suspicion in the minds of the Tamil people.

While the international community and political observers all over the world are watching this situation with fingers crossed, the Tamil people are highly perturbed, not knowing what would happen next. On behalf of the Tamil people I am making an earnest request to the government and the opposition to take cognisance of this trepidation of the Tamil people and ensure that they get over this fear. This is time everybody acts with circumspection and wisdom without resorting to parochial political agendas.

While working on the various projects programmed for the Eucharistic year, it is also important that we all seek the intervention of the Eucharistic Lord for the recommencement of the stalled peace process and the attainment of lasting peace with justice for the Tamil people. While conveying our best wishes and the season’s greetings, we continue to pray that the light of ‘peace’ shine in our peoples’ life.”

25 December 2004

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